Hi,
Windows Installer Cache is a folder created in local computer to store. How to Safely Clean Windows Installer Cache Files. How to Delete Windows Installer Patch Files by B. Changes to Package Caching in Windows Installer 5.0. @Donna.Makhoul, files are only placed in the patch cache when they are overwritten or delta-patched. If the files were not overwritten by the patch (because the component was installed, or the file was already updated by the same or different patch for another product) they are not copied.
I would like to inform you that, it is not recommended to delete Windows Installer Patch Files. The Windows Installer Cache, located in c:windowsinstaller folder, is used to store important files for applications installed using the Windows Installer technology and should not be deleted. If the installer cache has been compromised, you may not immediately see problems until you perform an action such as uninstall, repair, or update on a product.
When a product is installed using Windows Installer critical files are stored in the Windows Installer Cache (default is C:WindowsInstaller). These files are required for uninstalling and updating applications. Missing files cannot be copied between machines since they are unique.
If you do not have enough space on c: drive, you may try the below suggestions:
a. Move the download folder to another drive.
b. Empty recycle bin
c. Uninstall the applications that you no more use.
d. Perform disk cleanup, refer the below links.
Remove Windows Installer
(Applies to windows 10 as well)
Hope it helps. Revert to us with the results, will be glad to assist you.
Thank you.
The Windows Installer cache folder is a hidden system folder located at C:WindowsInstaller. Whenever you install a software using the Windows Installer, a copy of changed system information is placed in this folder. The Windows Installer cache contains the saved copies of the installed updates that are applied by the Installer.
This information is required, should you later decide to uninstall the software. This information is stored, not in the form of complete files, but simply as a triggering MSI. If you delete the particular files or folder, you probably would not be able to uninstall or repair or even update the program using the Windows Installer. That is why one should never delete the contents of the Windows Installer folder.
But if you do face a situation where you find that you are unable to uninstall, repair, or update some software, even when you have not deleted any files from the cache, it may be possible that Windows Installer cache folder may have been compromised or corrupted. For instance. Windows Installer will clean-out the installer cache if ever the owner on the %WINDIR%Installer directory changes from SYSTEM or Administrators.
Delete Patchcache
If you think of copying the missing installer files from some other computer to this one, it will not help, as the files from the cache are unique for every system.
Windows Installer Cache Verifier Package
The Windows Installer Cache Verifier Package troubleshooter can perform automated diagnostic analysis to identify solutions and find if you are missing Windows Installer Cache files.
To run the troubleshooter, visit Microsoft Fix it Center Pro and sign in using your Microsoft Account. You will see a list of Analysis packages. Search for and click on Windows Installer Cache Verifier Package. Give your Analysis Session a name and click Save. You will need this name to be able to see the analysis later on.
Follow the on-screen instructions to download and run the Windows Installer Cache Verifier Package.
Once done, go here after an hour or so, to view the analysis results.
Look for the name you gave for your Analysis Session and check if any of the possible recommended solutions help you.
Missing Windows Installer Cache files
Microsoft Support or third-party software will not really be able to help you recover the missing files from the Windows Installer cache. You may have to reinstall the software or maybe even have to rebuild the operating system, using system restore points, system backups – or even reinstall the operating system.
Clean Windows Installer Patch Cache Windows 10
There are other system error messages that can arise as a consequence of missing Windows Installer Cache files. You can read more about them at KB2667628.
Windows Installer Cleanup Windows 10
Clean Windows Installer Patch Cache Windows 7
UPDATE: 5th Feb 2017. You can use this PowerShell script “Restore-InstallerFiles.ps1” to scan for the missing Installer files and to restore them from different sources such as the Local folder, Shared folder or another machine which can be accessed from the target machine. It is available on TechNet.
Clean Up Windows Installer Cache
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